ThingSet Protocol

The ThingSet protocol provides a consistent, standardized way to configure, monitor and control ressource-constrained devices via different communication interfaces. The application layer protocol is widely independent of the underlying transport protocols and physical interfaces (e.g. CAN, USB, WiFi, Bluetooth or a simple serial interface).

The underlying layers have to ensure reliable transfer, correct packet order (if messages are packetized) and error-checking of the transferred data.

Two devices communicate via so-called channels. A communication channel can be established either directly (e.g. serial interface, USB, Bluetooth) or via a network or bus with several devices attached (e.g. CAN, Ethernet, WiFi, LoRa). In case of a network, each device/node has to be uniquely addressable.

The device acts as the server and responds to the requests by a client. The client might be a laptop or mobile phone with a human interface application.

The data transfer is always synchronous: The client sends a request, waits for the response (status code and/or requested data), handles the data of the response and possibly starts with additional requests.

Monitoring data is not intended for only a single device, but could be interesting for several devices (e.g. data logger, display, human interface device, etc.). Thus, the monitoring data is exchanged via a publish/subscribe messaging pattern.

Publication messages are directly broadcast through the network. There is no intermediate broker (like in MQTT) to store the messages and published messages are not confirmed by recipients, so there is no guarantee if the message was received.

Specification and ongoing development

The ThingSet protocol is under active development. Visit the thingset.github.io for further information.